YouTubers Logan Paul, MrBeast, and KSI have launched a line of lunch kits called LUNCHLY, but are they really a healthy option for kids?
Three major content creators have joined forces to introduce a new line of lunch kits similar to Lunchables — a popular (yet controversial) staple in many American children’s school lunchboxes.
Called LUNCHLY and launched by Logan Paul, MrBeast, and KSI, the product is being marketed as a healthier alternative to Lunchables, which have been criticized for containing high levels of sodium and lead, among other things.
LUNCHLY kits come in three varieties: turkey, crackers, and cheese; mini pizzas; and nachos — all of which are also Lunchable options. The kits also come with a Feastible and a Prime Hydration drink, two existing products created by the YouTubers.
The product is clearly marketed towards children, but whether or not LUNCHLY actually offers sufficient nutritional benefits to be an appropriate school lunch for kids is highly questionable.
“Lunch is essential for children in helping them foster healthy dietary habits and support the overall well-being that children need to thrive in school and daily life,” says Healthnews researcher Sandra Vigelienė, BSc. “However, Lunchly Kids’ menu options may not align with general nutrition recommendations due to a lack of nutrient density, the use of processed foods within menus, and a lack of fruits and vegetables.”
Are the ingredients healthy?
Ultra-processed foods, as defined by the NOVA classification, are foods that contain significant additives to enhance their flavor, texture, or shelf-life. These ingredients may include preservatives, emulsifiers, sweeteners, artificial colors, and flavor enhancers.
When reviewing the ingredients and nutritional contents of LUNCHLY kits, Vigelienė says they contain components that undoubtedly fall under the category of ultra-processed foods.
A glance at the LUNCHLY ingredients, which are available on the product’s website, reveals that the kits’ components contain long lists of ingredients that include sugar and artificial sweeteners, preservatives, thickeners, and stabilizers.
Some studies show that ultra-processed foods provide lower satiety levels and result in higher glycemic responses than whole foods. In these studies, consumption of a diet high in ultra-processed foods in children and adolescents is linked to an increased risk of obesity.
Consuming high amounts of ultra-processed foods over time has also been linked to an increased risk of some cancers, mental health issues, and cognitive decline.
While these meals contain ultra-processed foods, they contain little-to-no fruits and vegetables, which are an essential part of a balanced and healthy meal. Guidelines suggest filling half of a plate with vegetables or fruits at each meal.
Is LUNCHLY high in saturated fat?
According to American dietary guidelines, total fat consumed per day should constitute around 25-35% of total daily energy intake. Saturated fatty acid intake, however, should be less than 10% of the total fat content from daily calories. In a standard 2000 kcal diet, fat should constitute around 50-80 g, and the overall intake of saturated fat should be less than 22 g per day.
Overall total fat content in these menus, which ranges between 12 and 17 g, is within typical ranges for older children's diets, but Vigelienė says the total fat may be on the higher side for younger children.
And it’s not just the amount of fat that matters, but the type and quality of it, and these meals are particularly high in saturated fat. Some research links high intake of saturated fats to an increase in cardiovascular disease risk in adults. While cardiovascular diseases more often seem to appear later in life, atherosclerotic lesions (buildup of fat, calcium, and other substances) in coronary arteries may begin to appear in childhood, too.
“All three options of the Lunchly menu for children may be considered high in saturated fat, given that they are single meals,” Vigelienė says. “For younger children, these amounts are especially high, contributing to exceeding daily limits and, if such meals are consumed regularly long-term, even increasing potential negative health effects. “
Added sugars in LUNCHLY
LUNCHLY meal kits also contain added sugar, which are defined as sugars that are added through the processing of foods and include table sugar, syrups, honey, and sugars from concentrated fruit and vegetable juice. This is different from naturally occurring sugar in fruits and vegetables.
The recommended daily limits for added sugar in all age groups, according to American dietary guidelines, should not exceed 10% of total daily energy intake. In a standard 2000 kcal diet, this would equate to 200 kcal, 12 teaspoons of sugar, or around 48 g per day. However, it's important to keep in mind that younger children especially have lower calorie needs and therefore lower recommended added sugar limits.
All three LUNCHLY options include around 6-7 g of added sugar per meal, which may not seem that high, but most added sugar in these kits comes from processed drinks and desserts that provide no additional nutritional benefits to a child’s diet, Vigelienė says.
Excessive sugar intake has been associated with an increased risk of childhood obesity as well as an increased risk of dental cavities.
Is LUNCHLY high in sodium?
All three of the LUNCHLY options can be considered high in sodium, Vigelienė says. The “Turkey Stack ‘ems” have the lowest sodium content with 480 mg, the “Pizza” meal contains 710 mg per serving, and the “Fiesta Nachos” have 740 mg.
Current American dietary recommendations for children and adolescents recommend that those aged 5-8 years consume no more than 1500 mg of sodium per day, while those aged 9-13 and adolescents can consume 1800-2300 mg of sodium per day.
While the sodium content in these lunch options does not exceed recommended daily limits, it does make up a large portion of daily sodium intake, especially for younger kids. Some of the LUNCHLY options may provide almost 50% of the daily sodium limit for young children in just one meal, making it difficult to avoid exceeding the recommendations when considering other meals and snacks consumed throughout the day.
“While adequate levels of sodium are essential for many body functions, reducing sodium intake during childhood is recommended as a primary prevention for developing hypertension and cardiovascular diseases later in life,” Vigelienė says. “In fact, some scientific evidence suggests that a reduction of sodium intake by 1 g per day from childhood to adulthood could potentially prevent 3-4% of heart failures, strokes, and coronary heart diseases in adults. “
Does LUNCHLY contain sufficient calories?
These kits may not contain sufficient calories to sustain a child throughout the day. American dietary guidelines suggest that, depending on individual factors, those transitioning to school age and those in late childhood and adolescent stages (around the age of 9-13 and 14-18) should aim for around 1400-2600 kcal per day.
Dietary guidelines also suggest that children’s lunches should make up about one to two-thirds of their daily calorie intake. As a result, lunch calories should aim to be anywhere from around 500 kcal to 800 kcal per day.
LUNCHLY meal kits only provide about 230-360 kcal per serving, which is low, especially considering that the kits are meant to serve as one the day’s main meals.
“Lunch is one of the main meals for children during the day,” Vigelienė says. “Constantly not meeting daily energy requirements from food, especially when considering long-term and regular use of such convenience-packed meals, may lead to constant undernutrition which is critical in leading to the increased risk of stunting in early life, negatively affecting cognitive development, lower rates of schooling and school achievements, and decreased productivity among other health implications.”
It’s also important to consider the quality and nutrient composition of the calories children are consuming. Many of the calories in these meals, which include a processed drink and dessert, come from added sugars, sodium, and other less beneficial nutrients, while not providing adequate amounts of essential nutrients to support overall health.
Does LUNCHLY contain enough dietary fiber?
One of the main essential nutrients lacking from these meals is dietary fiber — a requirement for short-term and long-term health maintenance.
According to dietary recommendations, each individual, including children, should consume around 14 g of dietary fiber per 1000 kcal per day.
All three of the available options have low levels of dietary fiber per serving, ranging from 1-4 g depending on the meal.
Some scientific research points out that children and adolescents with higher dietary fiber intake may have a reduced risk of elevated cholesterol and blood pressure levels as well as a reduced risk of developing obesity.
On the other hand, low fluid and dietary fiber intake may contribute to the development of constipation in children, so enough dietary fiber is essential to help maintain regular bowel movements.
“Lunch, as one of the main meals per day for children, may be one of the main contributors to daily dietary fiber intake,” Vigelienė says. “The low content of dietary fiber in lunch makes it challenging to meet the daily recommended intakes for fiber consumption.”
LUNCHLY lacks protein
Protein is an essential macronutrient needed for many physiological functions and body systems, including general growth and development.
According to American dietary guidelines, protein intake should constitute around 10-30% of daily calorie intake, so the intake of protein in grams depends on individual factors such as age, height, and daily caloric needs in children. However, in a standard 2000 kcal diet, the daily protein intake should reach around 50-150 grams per day.
With this in mind, LUNCHLY menus are lacking in protein, offering just 9-12 g of protein per serving. If LUNCHLY is meant to be eaten as a complete lunch, the low protein content may make it difficult to reach the daily protein requirements, Vigelienė says, especially for older children and adolescents with higher calorie and protein needs.
The takeaway
LUNCHLY meals do contain certain vitamins and minerals, including vitamin D, calcium, iron, potassium, vitamin A, vitamin E, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12.
However, vitamin D and calcium levels are low, while others are lacking completely. This includes certain B group vitamins, vitamin K, and vitamin C, all of which are crucial to overall health and are usually present in whole foods and balanced meals.
Overall, LUNCHLY meals contain ultra-processed foods, lack fruits and vegetables, and tend to be low in nutrient density and higher in cost compared to homemade or regular school lunch options.
Vigelienė says, "Convenience-packed lunches may occasionally save time for parents, but relying on them long-term may negatively impact children’s health and often cost more than homemade or school lunches."
Your email will not be published. All fields are required.